Menopause Discussion > Other Health Discussion

Constant Urethra burning & IC

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YvonneW:
Hi everyone, I hope that someone is able to help me as I really don’t know what else to do.

I’ve been having urethral burning and that’s constant during the day and gets worse after I need a wee for the last 4.5 years. I had endless appointments and tests at the hospital but no one really knows where the burning is coming from? I don’t have pain anywhere else, it’s just urethral burning. Constant. Like a UTI without having a UTI. They diagnosed me with IC and I’m currently taking Amitriptyline for that. I also had a prolapse front and back which I had surgery for last year. But no matter what, the burning is still there and it hasn’t changed. I was recently prescribed Estradiol pessaries (vaginal tablets) and I was told to also put Estradiol cream on the outside where the urethra is, so far no changes and it’s been 4 weeks.

Has anyone else got any idea what else I could do or how long this could take to maybe feel a change in the burning sensation? I just need and want this burning to stop, it’s affecting my daily activities and mood at times 😭

Ayesha:
Your issues are more complex than the usual symptoms of GSM but topical oestrogen treatment can take up to four months to take effect. It could be just that, waiting for the treatment to work.
Hopefully others with more knowledge of your symptoms will come along with advice.

YvonneW:
Hi Ayesha, thank you so much for your reply! 😊 This gives me hope knowing it could take months to work.

Wrensong:
Hello YvonneW & :welcomemm:
I was diagnosed with IC on cystoscopy 20 years ago.  You have my sympathy as when the discomfort's bad it's hard to think of anything else.   I was prescribed nothing for it for the first 10 years & had to manage it with diet & lifestyle measures alone until starting HRT several years postmenopause.  As Ayesha says, topical HRT can take quite a while to work its magic on the GU tract, so please don't lose hope.

I use estradiol pessaries with a thin smear of the weaker estriol cream (0.01%) externally, as well as systemic HRT.  I also use Sylk or Yes WB to help the estradiol pessaries adhere to the vaginal walls.  This combination, together with the other standard IC diet & lifestyle management strategies helps me keep flares to a minimum & means I've been able to avoid the bladder instillations sometimes prescribed for IC.

There are quite a few IC related threads on the forum, so if it might help to read of others' experiences & you have time, you could do a search.

I hope you soon start to feel a reassuring improvement that will encourage you to persevere.
Wx

CLKD:
Please remind me: What's "IC" mean  :-\

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